"Did you ever cross the Alps ?" "No, but--" "But you believe the color-daubers of the artist guild, whose eyes are caught by the blue of the sky and sea, or the musical gentry who allow themselves to be deluded by the soft voices and touching melodies there, but you would do well to listen to a quiet man too for once." "Go on, Captain." "Very well.

And if anybody can get an untruthful word out of me, I'll pay his score till the Day of Judgment.

I'll begin the story at the commencement.

First you must cross the horrible Alps.

There you see barren, dreary rocks, cold snow, wild glacier torrents on which no boat can be used.